No asset class has experienced a roller-coaster ride like commodities have in 2008. Below is a table with the performance of ten major commodities over the last year. For each commodity, we highlight its current year-to-date change, its drop from its 52-week high, and its performance from the start of the year to its 52-week high.
As shown, oil has fallen the most from its highs at -75%. Oil is trailed by copper (-70%), platinum (-61%), and natural gas (-57%). Oil is also the commodity that is down the most year to date at -62%. Of the ten commodities highlighted, gold is the only one that remains up on the year with a gain of 3.87%.
The crazy thing is that these commodities looked to be headed towards record positive years just a few months ago. At its peak, natural gas was up 83% on the year, but it is now down 22% in 2008. Oil was up 53% for the year before falling more than $100 from its highs.
As hectic as the stock market has been this year, commodities have been even more volatile.
